An important milestone.
Young people are calling for urgent action to end childhood verbal abuse by adults in a first-of-its-kind essay published in @thelancetgroup The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health today.
The essay, written by young people aged 14 - 26, combines lived experience with academic research and advocacy.
The authors describe how harsh language - “the harm that leaves no bruises” - can become “an inner voice that did not begin as our own”, shaping children’s sense of self, safety, and belonging. They argue that childhood verbal abuse must be recognised as a major public health and child rights concern affecting millions - a powerful contribution to @wordsmattercharity ’s mission to end verbal abuse of children by adults.
Thank you to the incredible young contributors - Livvy Smith, currently taking an MSc in Developmental Psychology and Clinical Practice @ucl and @annafreudcharity , @singh_prathit , @paddy.crump , @poppyelizab , @ethans_world24 - and to Professor Peter Fonagy, Head of the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences @ucl , @uclpals , @uclbrainsciences .
Ensuring young people’s voices are heard is fundamental to Words Matter’s work.
You can read the essay here: https://bit.ly/3PhqEah
Computer‑generated voices may be easier to understand than human ones 🤖
🎧 New research from UCL and University of Roehampton reveals how synthetic speech is up to up to 20% more intelligible in noisy environments.
Find out more via the link in our bio.
#AI #science
Celebrating PALS PhD research at the 2026 Cumberland Lodge Conference ✨
PhD researchers from across UCL PALS came together to share their research, connect across disciplines, and celebrate this year’s Cecily De Monchaux Research Prize winners.
A brilliant opportunity to exchange ideas, build community, and recognise the exciting research happening across the department.
#UCLPALS #PhDResearch #CumberlandLodge #ResearchCommunity #UCLResearch AcademicCommunity
👀 How does your brain process faces differently from everything else?
💡 Jack Havord , MSc Cognitive & Decision Sciences student alumni at #UCLPALS, explains that unlike objects, we process faces holistically — focusing on the relationships between features, not just individual parts. This unique processing is supported by the brain’s fusiform face area (FFA) — a region specialised for recognising faces.
🎬️ Amazing video thanks to @jackhavord ! 👏
#UCLPALS #FacePerception #Neuroscience #CognitiveScience #BrainScience #FFA #Psychology
Words really do matter 💬💛
A new free e-learning course from the Word Matter charity to discover practical ways to support children’s mental health and wellbeing, build their confidence, self-esteem, and resilience.
👉 Words Matter: How to Communicate with Children so they Thrive 🎓 Available now on FutureLearn.com
#UCLPALS #WordsMatter #ChildWellbeing #MentalHealth #ParentingSupport #EducationForWellbeing
We’re proud to announce that we’ve been ranked fifth in the world for Psychology in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject.
A huge thank you to our brilliant students, researchers and staff who make this possible. 💜
#ucl #psychology #studyinlondon @topunis
💬 Peer influence on Adolescent Mental Health
Join us for a talk discussing recent work showing how young people’s mental health is shaped by, and reflected in, the mental health of those around them.
CEHP Seminar with Dr Jack Andrews
📅 20th March 2026
📍 Hybrid (in person + online)
🔗 👉 Sign-up: /brain-sciences/events/2026/mar/cehp-seminar-dr-jack-andrews
#UCLPALS #Clinical #Educational #Health #Psychology #MentalHealth #socialinfluence #AcademicSeminar
📱 UCL researchers show two-year-olds in England are watching ~2 hrs of screens a day, above World Health Organisation recommendations — and higher screen use is linked to poorer language development and more emotional/behavioural difficulties. This highlights important questions about early childhood environments and development.
📰 Reported by theindependent.co.uk: /news/science/children-toddlers-screen-time-warning-parents-b2899405.html
#UCL #ChildDevelopment #ScreenTime #EarlyYears #LanguageDevelopment #ParentingResearch #MentalHealthResearch
🧠 What happens in your brain when a stranger suddenly shouts at you?
Chiara Pontiggia, MSc Cognitive & Decision Sciences alumni at #UCLPALS, explains how the amygdala acts as the brain’s fear centre — rapidly detecting threat and triggering our emotional response. ⚡
💡 Understanding the science behind everyday emotions.
#UCLPALS #Neuroscience #Amygdala #EmotionScience #CognitiveScience #BrainFacts #StudentVoices
🌿☕ PALS Green Day 2026 is here!
Join us TODAY at 26 Bedford Way to celebrate sustainability with #GreenUCLPALS —
📍 3rd Floor Café, 26 Bedford Way
📅 12 March
#UCLPALS #GreenUCLPALS #UCL200 #Sustainability #GreenCampus #UCLCommunity
🗞️ Research study led by UCL and University of Liverpool shows early ADHD traits are linked to poorer physical and mental health later in life — highlighting why early support and prevention matter. 🧠
📰 In the media: theindependent.co.uk
#UCLPALS #ADHDResearch #MentalHealth
🌿☕ Join us in celebrating PALS Green Day 2026:
Join us on 12 March at 26 Bedford Way to celebrate sustainability with #GreenUCLPALS — from trialling sustainable coffee (the first 200 cups are FREE!)
You can also help design the PALS UCL200 Garden and transform our outdoor space into a greener place for everyone. 🌱
📍 3rd Floor Café, 26 Bedford Way
📅 12 March
#UCLPALS #GreenUCLPALS #UCL200 #Sustainability #GreenCampus #UCLCommunity
